Monthly Archives: May 2021

Spring Brings the Cicadas

Our neighborhood is abuzz, but it’s not from human gossip. It’s from our once-in-seventeeen- years visitors, the cicadas. Yes, they started emerging in earnest after it stopped dipping down into the 40s at night and then, like it usually does in the Washington, DC area, shot instantly into the 90s.

They are dubbed “Brood X” which makes them sound to me sort of like characters in a sci-fy/ noir movie mash-up. Our colleague Jim has written an article for our work web site about why the X, and also many other aspects of cicada folklore and folklife, which is a good read.

While our own backyard doesn’t have nearly the numbers some do, there is still this constant, undulating “zizz-zizz” in the background when you venture outside, and scores (if not billions) of dopey or dead specimens hanging out. Here’s what they look and sound like:

It’s not really that big a nuisance, and actually it’s pretty cool. And, as a result, you too can become a Citizen Scientist by downloading the app “Cicada Safari” and uploading your photos, which get added to a map.

They’ll be gone before we know it. So, we might as well make the most of them. But I will not be trying any in recipes, which we knew were bound to be on offer, right?

Living the Hybrid Life

As more people get “vaxxed” (that’s a verb now), we are slowly emerging out of our mostly virtual lives and into real experiences. My husband and I have even – gasp! – gone out to dine indoors at a couple of restaurants. But, certain pandemic-era practices seem here to stay. And, I fear, we are stuck with such terms as “hybrid” and “pivot.”

Is that all bad, though? I think not. Along with the part about getting outside more, the part about connecting via Zoom, Teams, or Google Hangouts can be wearisome but it can also create some opportunities that would never have happened if we had to rely on finding the time and means to get together in person.

Whether conveniently connecting with an old friend who lives across town (but still we hadn’t spoken in years), gathering some far-flung women friends for cooking sessions, or sharing the work of some colleagues half-way around the world with an Arlington-based classroom, the technology is amazing and some heart-felt connections can be made despite the coldness of the medium and the weirdness of being a face in a frame. (And also watching yourself all the time which is just plain weird.)

Let us continue to embrace virtual visiting, while (like the cicadas, which may be the subject of my next blog) also emerge from our figurative underground lairs to greet the world in person.

Here are some images from my recent virtual and in person life:

For the second year, our annual Titanic Party, held more or less around the time the ship sunk and involving eating and watching the movie, was organized virtually by my daughter. This year I won the food competition with my iceberg floating island!
Our cooking group continues to meet periodically. In April we took advantage of spring asparagus and made asparagus galettes. And gabbed of course.
I helped facilitate a program with my friend and fellow India/US Exchange partner, Mamoni Chitrakar, and an Arlington school. They have really upped their virtual game in Naya Village, West Bengal, and it was so great to see her and her daughter!
Mother’s Day virtual movie night with my kid. We watched “Eat, Drink, Man, Woman” so many snacks were necessary to have on hand.
In the category of real experiences, my husband and I visited the Franciscan Monastery grounds and garden in DC. Lovely on a spring day.
Saint Anne put out the welcome mat for us. Nice of her!